142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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300867
Experiences of Discrimination against Latinos in a Border Community Following September 11th: Implications for the Mental Health of Latinos in Detroit, MI

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Alana M.W. LeBron, MS , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Angela G. Reyes, MPH , Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Detroit, MI
Amy J. Schulz, PhD , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Cindy Gamboa , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Graciela B. Mentz, PhD , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Since 9/11 the U.S. has experienced an escalation of anti-immigrant sentiments and polices. This context may contribute to an increase in discrimination against Latinos, particularly those living in Detroit, MI, a border community.  Given evidence of associations between discrimination and depressive symptoms (DS), increases in discrimination may adversely affect DS for Latinos.  This presentation will examine differences in discrimination for Latino, White, and Black Detroit residents in 2002 and 2008; associations between discrimination and DS at both time points; and differences in neighborhood-level discrimination in 2002 and 2008 and its association with DS.

Methods. This study analyzed data from the Healthy Environments Partnership Community Survey (919 and 459 Whites, Blacks, and Latinos aged >25 surveyed in 2002 and 2008). Dependent variable: depressive symptoms.  Independent variable: everyday discrimination.  Using logistic regression, we examined racial/ethnic differences in discrimination, adjusting for age, education, and sex.  We assessed the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms in 2002 and 2008 using linear regression, controlling for sociodemographics. 

Results. In 2002, there were no racial/ethnic differences in the odds of discrimination.  In 2008, Latinos (OR=2.39; 95% CI:1.06,5.39) and Blacks (OR=1.85, 95% CI:1.02,3.34) had significantly higher odds of discrimination than Whites. In 2002 (B=0.33, p<0.01) and 2008 (B=0.35, p<0.01), discrimination was associated with significantly higher DS.  Tests of effect modification indicated that in 2008 discrimination was inversely associated with DS among Latinos (B=-0.22, p<0.05) and Blacks (B=-0.13, p=0.08).

Conclusions. The complex association between discrimination, race/ethnicity, ethnic identity, neighborhood factors, and mental health in the current immigration context will be discussed.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe associations between discrimination and depressive symptoms. Describe theoretical processes that might contribute to increases in discrimination by race and ethnicity and implications for mental health. Identify potential intervention strategies to promote and support mental health.

Keyword(s): Mental Health, Immigrant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceptualized the analysis, performed the analysis, and took the lead in writing the abstract and associated paper. My research training has focused on the influence of social, political, and economic contexts on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health inequities, with a particular focus on immigration policies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3058.0: Latino Mental Health: Strategies and Interventions that Impact Mental Illness and Promote Mental Health